AIF announces 10 nominees for Innovation Prize for Africa

The African Innovation Foundation (AIF) has announced the 10 nominees for its Innovation Prize Award (IPA) 2015, which offers a total prize share of US$150,000 as well as investment opportunities and media attention.

Disrupt Africa reported last year applications were open for the prize, with the AIF particularly encouraging applications from women and young people. A record 925 applications from 41 countries were received.

The awards ceremony will be held on May 12-13 in Skhirat, Morocco, in partnership with Morocco’s Ministry of Industry, Trade, Investment and the Digital Economy.

The 10 finalists that will compete for the prize showcase a diverse range of innovations from agriculture, to education and e-health. They include Adnane Remmal from Morocco with his patented alternative to livestock antibiotics, Farm Capital Africa from Kenya with its risk sharing agribusiness funding model, the Lumkani fire detection startup from South Africa, Burundian Jean Bosco Kazirukanyo with his new type of cement “OSP”, and South African Johann Pierre Kok with his scientific engineering educational box.

The rest of the finalists are made up of the M-Changa mobile app from Kenya, the Smartspot TBcheck product from South Africa, Cameroonian Marc Arthur Zang’s cardio-pad, Mellowcabs from South Africa, and Ugandan Samuel Otukol’s water distillation system.

Moulay Hafid Elalamy, Morocco’s minister of industry, trade, investment and the digital economy for Morocco, expressed his enthusiasm to be co-hosting the event.

“We have a strong commitment with AIF to unlock the innovation potential of the continent. The ambition is to make Africa a juncture of innovative and prosperous nations,” he said.

Three winners will be chosen at the event, sharing the US$150,000 cash prize. The most outstanding innovation will receive US$100,000, while two prizes of US$25,000 will be awarded for innovation with the highest social impact and best business potential respectively.

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Passionate about the vibrant tech startups scene in Africa, Tom can usually be found sniffing out the continent's most exciting new companies and entrepreneurs, funding rounds and any other developments within the growing ecosystem.